Ice cube cutting machine



April 15, 1941- F. x. DoTTERwElcH 2,238,805

ICE CUBE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8, 1938" 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A orneys April 15, 1941 F. x. DoTTERwElcH 2,238,805

ICE CUBE CUTTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Shea?l 2 Filed Dec. 8, 1938 vill',

A itorneys April 15,r 1941 F. x. D'oTTERwElcH `2,238,805

ICE GUBE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8, 1958 3 Sheets--Shee 5 A orneys Patented Apr. 15, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ICE CUBE MACHINE 1 Claim.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view showing the cam means.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view with certain parts removed and in section through one of the sprocket wheel shafts.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that the machine includes an elongated rectangularshaped table 5 which at one end is provided with the semi-circular-shaped wall 6 which merges at its ends with the parallel side walls 1-1 the upper ends of which are flanged outwardly to provide tracks 8 which support the outstanding anges 9 of the ice block-holding frames I0. Closely spaced inner walls |||I in parallel relation to each other and to the side walls 1 also have outstanding flanges defining tracks I2 for i supporting the flanges of the ice block holders.

At the ends of the inner walls are located the upstanding shafts I3 and I4 on which are the sprocket wheels I5 and I6. Around these sprocket wheels are -trained the sprocket chains I1. Numeral I8 generally refers to a transmission for driving the shaft I9 carrying the vertical disk saws in the trough 2| and for also driving the shaft 22 carrying the vertical disk saws 23 in the trough 24.

Also located in the trough 24 is the horizontal disk saw 25 mounted on the hub 26 which is secured to the shaft 21, the latter preferably having the pulley 28 over which the power belt 29 is trained. l

Numeral 30 represents a chute which extends downwardly from the table 5 at a point under the horizontal saw 25.

As can be seen in Figure l, each ice block holding frame I D has an arm 3| projecting from one corner thereof in alignment with one side of the frame and this carries the rollers 32. Adjacent this arm 3|, the frame flange 9 has an ear 33 which supports a roller 34.

Again referring to Figure 1, it can be seen that extending from the collar 35 on the shaft I4 a cam extends tangentially as at 36 and then sweeps around as at 31 to merge with the short wall structure 38 overlying one of the inner walls II.

Extending from the collar 39 on the shaft I3 is the arcuate-shaped-cam 40vwhich has the tail portion 4| sweeping backwardly over the adjacent end portion of the same wall II and against this rides the rollers 32. Below the level of the sprocket I5 is a second cam 42 against which the complementary roller 34 of each holder can strike as the chains I1 starts to pull the holder to complete a 180 turn, but instead of making the 180 turn, only a movement of the frame is accomplished when the roller 34 strikes the inturned portion 43 of the cam 42 and causes the frame to move inwardly ofthe trough 24 at a position at right angles to what it was while in the trough 2|. At this point it will be observed that each of the framesA is connected by its arm 3| to the sprocket chain I1 as at 44.

It; can be seen that the ice is supported by the table 5 as shown in Figure 2 and moves along. the trough 2| first being cut by the saws 20. The ice block is then swung around by the rollers and cams 40 and 42 to move into the trough 24 at right angles to the position it was' in moving through the trough 2|. In the trough 24 it is cut again by the saws 23, the saws 23 making cuts intersecting the cuts made by the saws 20. Subsequently the horizontal. saw 25 cuts off the intersecting cut portions of the block and the thus formed cubes drop through the chute 30 into a suitable container.

The frames are then swung by engagement of the rollers 32 with the portions 36 and 31 of the cam at the opposite end of the apparatus through a 270 turn to be reinserted into the trough 2| for a repeat of the cycle.

As can be seen in Figure 5, the rollers 34 serve to guide the holders into the trough 24 by passing between the wall structure and the straight terminal portion of the cam 42.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the ice block carrying frames are pulled by the travel of the chain I1, while at the opposite side of the table the carrying frames are pushed by the chain. This action is obtained through the cammlng aq;n tion at the ends of the trough,

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

An ice cube machine comprising a table having a pair of spaced troughs connected at their opposite ends, a gang of rotating saws in each of the troughs cutting on planes extending longitudinally of the troughs, driven sprockets mounted between said troughs and at the ends thereof, an endless chain connecting said sprockets, cams mounted on the sprockets, ice carriers pivotally supported by the endless chain movable over said saws, roller means on said ice carriers for engagement with said sprockets, arms carrying rollers mounted on said ice carriers for cooperating engagement with the cams for rotating the ice carriers approximately ninety degrees as they pass from one trough to the other, and means for cutting off that portion of the ice sawed by the gangs of saws.

FRANCIS X. DOTTERWEICH. 

